Telling a Black woman “No” in a country where she must continually fight for her freedom is a recipe equivalent to not holding a beer but holding SirDavis whiskey and watching Beyoncé Wreck Shop on stage for those who say, “She ain’t Country!”
The unmitigated gall of Country Music gatekeepers’ belief that they can stop Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter from using her gifts to impact the world through her music is laughable at this point. And the rumored comments from those standing behind enemy lines trying to find something negative to discuss about her Christmas Day performance are delusional at best.
The 2024 Christmas Day Beyoncé Bowl took us all on a ride across the globe where we were, “Buckin’, Buckin’, Buckin’, Whoa,” so hard like a mechanical bull that the world did indeed stop because who did we come to see, “Me!” Me, as in Beyoncé.
Naysayers can nitpick all they want because what we witnessed is one of the best Country performances of all time. It was as if God allowed the CMAs (Country Music Association) to reject Beyonce so that He could set up a divinely prepared table in front of her enemies. This album and performance are a testament and Chef’s Kiss to how God moves mountains and works on our behalf. This inspirational performance reminds us that everything we need to do great things in this world is in our hands.
As a Black woman creative I am inspired by her work. The photography and camera work, costuming, transitions, staging, details, music, and more were immaculate from beginning to end. The magnificent coat design by one of my favorite all-time designers, Roberto Cavalli, is breathtakingly showcased in style as Beyoncé rides in on a white horse, singing “16 CARRIAGES” so beautifully. Then, she transitions to singing the Beatles classic “BLACKBIRD” with fellow Black women country music artists Tanner Adell, Brittney Spencer, Tiera Kennedy, and Reyna Roberts.
The costuming and choice of color alone are hands-down state-of-the-art productions, suited with precise and keen details that are award-winning and worthy of notable attention. To know that a woman from Houston, Texas, by way of the Tre (Third Ward), is representing her home to the fullest extent so proudly with excellence is profound indeed.
Isn’t it a mother’s ultimate dream to give her child the necessities and tools they need to go out and be great in this world by watching the impactful hard work, dedication, and tenacity you possess? Witnessing the remarkableness of a young Blue Ivy Carter growing up alongside her mother in this entertainment industry is heartfelt and magical. We are so proud of Blue Ivy.
The 2024 Netflix Christmas Day doubleheader is the first of a three-year contract and new holiday tradition between the NFL and Netflix. Fans had the opportunity to stream the Chiefs vs. Steelers game followed by the Ravens vs. Texans, with the latter highlighting a half-time performance by Beyoncé featuring her 11-time Grammy-nominated country album, “Cowboy Carter.” The half-time performance included music titles, “16 CARRIAGES,” “BLACKBIRD,” “AMERICAN REQUIEM,” “YA YA,” “SPAGHETTII/RIIVERDANCE,” “LEVII’S JEANS,” “JOLENE,” and “TEXAS HOLD ‘EM.” Featured performers also included Post Malone, Shaboozey, and Beyoncé’s eldest daughter, Blue Ivy Carter.
Netflix recently released a few statistics, which include the magnitude of Thee Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter’s reach among the masses to include:
- The second game of the Netflix Christmas doubleheader, Ravens-Texans, was the most-watched Christmas Day game on record among A18-34 with 5.1 million US viewers (based on Nielsen records dating back to 2001).
- According to Nielsen, US viewership for Ravens-Texans peaked with the Beyoncé Bowl, with over 27 million viewers.
- Christmas was a record-breaking day for Netflix and the NFL, with an unduplicated audience of nearly 65M US viewers, according to Nielsen.
More detailed statistics will be released on December 31, 2024 and will include global ratings and additional US insights to come. And the world will be stopping once again to find out more details about the January 14, 2025 date that Beyoncé highlighted at the end of her performance as a statement announcement as well. Viewers can watch the Beyoncé Bowl once more in its entirety as it is streaming now on Netflix. View a quick video collage of a few team members that worked with Beyoncé to bring about this phenomenal halftime show.
